Equine Passport
Before the END OF JUNE 2004 the Government has advised that all forms of equidae, this includes horses, ponies, donkeys, mules, zebras and all crosses between them, regardless of age, should have a passport. There are about 60 Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs), mainly Breeding Societies, which will issue a Unique Equine Life Number (UELN). Passports are required to implement the European Commission’s decision 2000/68/EC, adopted as a food safety measure.
As the horse is classified as a food-producing animal the legislation prevents animals entering the food chain, after they have received medication that is not intended for human consumption. At the same time, the legislation aims to provide a means by which medicines, for which no maximum residue limits have been set, can continue to be used in horses that are not destined to enter the food chain. An example of such a medicine would be Equipalazone (Bute).
The passport will be valid for the entire life of the horse and must be obtained by the time a foal reaches six months of age, or earlier if they are moved from the premises where they were born. Each passport will carry a unique horse identification number (UELN) that will be supplied by the organisation issuing the passport.
Horse owners are required to sign a declaration indicating whether or not the animal is intended for human consumption. The owner may change the declaration, but only from intended to not intended for human consumption, even after the horse is sold or changes owner. If the declaration states the horse is eligible, the veterinary surgeon must not administer drugs prohibited by the E.U. Certain other drugs will be recorded including equine influenza vaccination. If, however, the owner states that the horse is not intended for human consumption there will be no requirements to record the relevant medicines.
Every horse will require its passport when, for example,
- it travels to other premises for competitions,
- for veterinary treatment,
- to the premises of a new keeper
- to the slaughterhouse
If the owner fails to provide a passport when asked by an attending veterinary surgeon, certain drugs cannot be administered. It is therefore important to ensure that horses’ passports are kept ‘to hand’.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Where do I obtain a passport?
Please read the British Horse Society flow chart and then contact the relevant society.
Q. Will I need a veterinary surgeon to visit my horse?
It is likely, as identifying sketches will need to be completed on the passport.
Q. My horse already has a passport; is it valid?
Only passports issued by authorised Passport Issuing Organisations (PIOs) will be valid under the new legislation. If you have a passport that has been issued by an authorized PIO, it will need to be updated by the PIO as soon as possible.
Q. Is my pony exempt from requiring a passport?
Exemptions will be made for ponies registered with the appropriate authorities in Dartmoor, The New Forest and Exmoor, but a full passport will be required for any pony leaving the area.
Consultation is still in progress about some aspects of the proposed legislation, please ensure that you check the updated information on the website on a regular basis.
For more details please contact:
www.defra.gov.uk ‘Animal Health & Welfare’ page
www.bhs.org.uk 08701 29 99 92
Should you wish to discuss any of these issues in more detail, please consult your veterinary surgeon.